D&D (2024) Should 2014 Half Elves and Half Orcs be added to the 2025 SRD?

[CreamCloud0]

I feel a relatable species needs to exist, in the same way that nearly every fantasy or science fiction has at least one character that basically reads as human.

given how much species are just treated as rubber mask humans i feel it's a stretch that people couldn't be able to find one of these species that fits their definition for and reads as 'relatable human substitute'
gnomes, well they're just small humans
an aasimar is just a divinely touched human
shifters are just humans with a bit of light lycantropy
warforged are simply robot people
dragonborn are regular people, just with a few extra scales in some people's view anyway.

 

[Micah Sweet]

given how much species are just treated as rubber mask humans i feel it's a stretch that people couldn't be able to find one of these species that fits their definition for and reads as 'relatable human substitute'
gnomes, well they're just small humans
an aasimar is just a divinely touched human
shifters are just humans with a bit of light lycantropy
warforged are simply robot people
dragonborn are regular people, just with a few extra scales in some people's view anyway.

If you're right, why are so many genre stories set up the way I say?

 

[W'rkncacnter]

And we get rid of gnome [...] in favor of kobold

...your terms are acceptable

 

[CreamCloud0]

If you're right, why are so many genre stories set up the way I say?

i'm not saying the Relatable Human Species isn't a thing, i'm saying i think this selection provides multiple avenues for people to find a species with which they can Relate To Humanity With.

 

[Crimson Longinus]

So I 've said many times that D&D has way too many species, and especially now than they're have removed a lot of mechanical and thematic distinction many of them seem redundant. Still, it seems weird to remove species that are both popular and been part of the game for a long time, and are prominent in a lot of official settings.

I also recognise that mixed ancestry is something a lot of people feel should be represented, and the current approach seems like erasure.

I think it would have been wiser to design species as more modular to begin with. This would have helped with mixed species, as well as with people homebrewing their own species. (E.g. each species has two major and four minor traits. A hybrid offspring will select one major trait and two minor traits from both sides.)

 

[W'rkncacnter]

I think it would have been wiser to design species as more modular to begin with. This would have helped with mixed species, as well with people homebrewing their own species. (E.g. each species has two major and four minor traits. A hybrid offspring will select one major trait and two minor traits from both sides.)

4e--uh, no, wait, wrong game, hold on...

A5e strikes again!

 

[mamba]

given how much species are just treated as rubber mask humans i feel it's a stretch that people couldn't be able to find one

it also makes one wonder why even bother having species other than human, if everyone ultimately is a human with at best a little quirk anyway

 

[Minigiant]

So I 've said many times that D&D has way too many species, and especially now than they're have removed a lot of mechanical and thematic distinction many of them seem redundant. Still, it seems weird to remove species that are both popular and been part of the game for a long time, and are prominent in a lot of official settings.

I also recognise that mixed ancestry is something a lot of people feel should be represented, and the current approach seems like erasure.

I think it would have been wiser to design species as more modular to begin with. This would have helped with mixed species, as well as with people homebrewing their own species. (E.g. each species has two major and four minor traits. A hybrid offspring will select one major trait and two minor traits from both sides.)

Races were designed to minor in power and importance in the first place. That was the first mistake. So species following behind it and being forced to be compatible just ruined chance of success.

Choosing species should be a major aspect of all characters of all classes. Ideally each species would have trais that one could split in mixed species or replace in touched species.

 

[CreamCloud0]

it also makes one wonder why even bother having species other than human, if everyone ultimately is a human with at best a little quirk anyway

because people would riot if the fantasy game didn't have other species. even if vast swathes of some of the greatest media manage to be good while only containing humans.

but i do wish species were treated with more respect, to be more than just being the rubber mask.

 

[mamba]

because people would riot if the fantasy game didn't have other species. even if vast swathes of some of the greatest media manage to be good while only containing humans.

personally I would not mind at all, but yeah, some would.

but i do wish species were treated with more respect, to be more than just being the rubber mask.

agreed, they should take up a bit more design space, which also allows for a better way to mix them than what 2024 offers